Box Score Wofford-UNCG Box Score
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Wofford College men’s basketball team picked up a huge 59-56 road win in a Southern Conference match-up on Thursday night at Fleming Gym. The Terriers erased a 15-point lead by the Spartans to come away with the three point win as Drew Gibson hit two free throws with three seconds left to seal the win.
Wofford is 14-9 overall and 7-6 in SoCon play. UNC Greensboro is 13-8 overall and 7-5 in conference play. The Terriers were led by Shane Nichols with 21 points and Drew Gibson with eleven point and eight assists. Tim Johnson had seven rebounds for Wofford. Kyle Hines scored 22 points for the Spartans and he added twelve rebounds and seven blocked shots.
“To come into Fleming Gym and get a win is not an easy task,” said Wofford head coach Mike Young. “For us to come away with a win is a significant achievement for our team. We continue to get better on the defensive end, which was a huge key in the game. This team really deserves great support from our Terrier fans and we hope to have a big crowd in Ben Johnson Arena on Saturday night.”
The Spartans opened the game with a three-pointer by Ben Stywall. Kyle Hines scored the next five points for UNCG as they built an 8-1 lead. After a three-pointer by Shane Nichols, the Spartans went on an 11-0 run as they extended the lead to 19-4 at 11:13 in the first half.
It was then time for the Terriers to go on a run, as they scored the next eight points in the game, including four points by Shane Nichols, to cut the lead to 19-12 at 7:31. Over the last five minutes of the first half, Wofford outscored the Spartans 8-2 as four different players scored for the Terriers. At the half, UNCG held a two point lead at 27-25.
To open the second half, Corey Godzinski hit a three-pointer to give the Terriers a 28-27 lead and erase the 15-point advantage that the Spartans had built. A basket by Terry Martin gave the Terriers a 32-29 lead at 17:40. A huge dunk by Corey Godzinski tied the game at 34-34, but the Spartans were able to take a six point lead at 42-36 at 13:03. Two baskets and a free throw by Shane Nichols cut the lead to 42-41 at 12:07 in the second half.
After seven minutes of play, the Terriers had once again tied the game at 48-48 with 5:12 left in the second half. A three-pointer by Junior Salters tied the game at51-51 with 3:25 remaining, but then Kyle Hines was able to give the Spartans a lead again. A basket by Corey Godzinski with 1:35 on the clock gave the Terriers a 55-54 lead. Junior Salters added a running jumper with 42 seconds left for a 57-54 lead. Kyle Hines then hit two of four free throw attempts to make it a one point Terrier lead with four seconds left. Drew Gibson hit two free throws with three seconds lefts for a three-point lead at 59-56. Kyle Hines tried to put up a three-pointer as the buzzer sounded, but it was not good and the Terriers got the road win.
Wofford shot 45.1% from the floor and 61.1% from three. The Terriers were 75.0% from the line. The Spartans were 41.5% from the floor and 22.7% from behind the arc and 38.9% from the free throw line. The Spartans had a 37-32 edge on rebounds.
The Terriers have won six of their last seven games in conference play. The game was the first this season the Terriers have won when being out-rebounded. It marked the first time since the 1990-91 season that Wofford has defeated UNCG twice in a season and the first road win at UNCG since 1999. Marcus Jackson (shoulder) was the only Terrier who did not dress for the contest. Wofford’s Tyler Whatley fouled out with four seconds left in the game after facing Kyle Hines for most of the evening.
Wofford return home on Saturday, February 9 to face Elon at 7:00 pm. The game will be part of a double-header with the women’s team, who face Georgia Southern at 4:00 p.m. The men will play at Appalachian State on Monday night.
